Cancer patient kicked off airline, misses chemo appointment

Hawaii – A woman who suffers from multiple myeloma was kicked off an Alaska Airlines flight after not presenting a doctor’s note clearing her to fly. According to a Huffington Post report, the cancer patient, Elizabeth Sedway of California, missed a chemotherapy appointment the following day after being forced to leave the flight that was set to travel from Hawaii to San Jose.

Sedway wrote a post about the incident on social media. She stated that while waiting in the disabled section of the boarding area she was asked by an airline worker if she needed help. Initially saying no, she later said she may need assistance upon being asked again.

Sedway is quoted as writing on Facebook, “Because I said the word weak, the Alaska Airlines employee called a doctor she claimed was associated with the airlines… After we board the plane. An Alaska representative boarded the plane, and told us I could not fly without a note from a doctor stating that I was cleared to fly.”

As cited by CBS San Francisco, the airline subsequently released a statement about the incident saying, “We regret the inconvenience Ms. Sedway experienced yesterday and are very sorry for how the situation was handled. Her family’s tickets have been refunded and we will cover the cost of her family’s overnight accommodations in Lihue. While our employee had the customer’s well-being in mind, the situation could have been handled differently.”